Graham Thorpe dies aged 55

[SillyCowCorner1]

RIP to one of the grittiest batsmen I have been privileged to see. His last innings in the West Indies (Kensington Oval), he made 119* and the next best score was extras (20). England won that match.

Will be missed.

 

[honestbharani]

Which pissed me off before the series started, pissed me off after the series finished, and still pisses me off now.

You can read my posts in the AShes 2005 sub-forum to see how I felt the same way.

 

[honestbharani]

Nah it was all about getting KP to debut. Bell was already in the side.

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BBC SPORT | Cricket | Ashes 2005 | England drop Thorpe for Pietersen

True.. but I put it that way coz IMO it should have always been KP and Thorpe playing and not Bell.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

RIP, knew he was ill, but 55 is no age still. I only caught the back end of his career, but he was still a very good player by then

 

[Shri]

What ailed him

 

[howitzer]

What ailed him

He ate glass. Actually wasn't revealed btw.

 

[GIMH]

His autobiography was a tough read, a bloke who struggled with life and all that came with it. Hope he found some happiness in his last couple of decades.

 

[ma1978]

Really heartbreaking at 55 even when you know he was sick

I saw the entirety of his career and he was a fine player and embodied all the best qualities of English test cricket

 

[hazsa19]

Genuinely been sad all day since hearing this news. Thinking back it feels like I spent entire summer holidays sat on the floor in front of the tv watching him bat. I must've been one of thousands of kids to bat with a kookaburra just because of him. Tried and failed to bat like him too. RIP Thorpey thanks for the wonderful memories

 

[BigBeefy]

55 is just no age- RIP to a wonderful cricketer and of course thoughts go out to his loved ones

Another reminder of how precious life is.

Reading some of the earlier comments and can relate - watching Thorpe, Langer and Ponting in my childhood peaked my interest in Kookaburra bats (was he the only Englishman of the 90s to use one?)

Wonderful memories of youth- popping over to this magical little independent sports shop in Wolverhampton called Ron Flowers, getting my hands on all the bats I’d watched in the Ashes series where the Aussies had dominated us. Athers and Nass’ Grey-Nicholls, Butch’s Slazenger V500 was it? And of course, Thorpeys Kookaburra. Dreaming of days where we might one day win a series again.

When it’s all said and done those bits of magic is what it is all about. Your sporting heroes inspiring you and sprinkling a bit of magic into your life.

Thank you Graham for your part in that, may you rest in peace

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

This is terrible news, Thorpe was the best batsman for England when I was growing up.
RIP

 

[Moss]

Tragic news. True batting hero of the nineties and after. The start of his career coincided with the time we finally got to see regular cricket broadcasts from elsewhere in India, and I watched a fair bit of England’s series in that time. Typically I spent a lot of time obsessing over G. Hick and why he couldn’t crack it, when it really should have been on Thorpe and how he was cracking it (developing that tremendous pull shot after being inspired by Lara in ‘94, applying the lessons in playing spin from D. Fletcher in 2000-01 on those subcontinent tours, etx). Just loved his ability to get out there and get on with it irrespective of the match situation.

Was a pity we never got to see the best of him in India, England toured exactly once (!) during his career and he played one test before personal problems took over I think. Felt genuinely happy for him when he scored that ton against South Africa at the Oval on his return to the side in 2003. Really hope he was finally at peace in the last 2 decades.

 

[Jumno]

Gutted, no age at all.

Fantastic batsman.

RIP

 

[GIMH]

Edgbaston 97 highlights on sky sports cricket. The reason I am here folks. Nass and Thorpey

 

[GIMH]

Can only think of Root better against spin from these shores in my lifetime. Am I wrong?

 

[BazBall21]

Can only think of Root better against spin from these shores in my lifetime. Am I wrong?

I'd say you're right. Thorpe had great success v Murali, Warne and Saqlain Mushtaq.

 

[Boy_Blunder]

Can only think of Root better against spin from these shores in my lifetime. Am I wrong?

Pietersen smacking Murali around Edgebaston in 2006 is the most iconic single performance against spin I can remember.

Switch hitting is pretty common now, but not then.

I don't think there will be many others that could match Thorpe though.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Which pissed me off before the series started, pissed me off after the series finished, and still pisses me off now.

tbf to selectors he wasn't technically dropped for Bell, he was dropped for KP who was looking one of the best bats in the world at the time and ended up England's best bat in the series easily

But Bell was terrible and it's hard not to get annoyed in hindsight that Thorpe sat out for him

 

[BazBall21]

There is an added cruelty that Thorpe never won an Ashes series despite always doing well against Australia individually. It would have been the finish he richly deserved. I can understand why they went with Bell - but one of the best batsmen in the world being discarded was unfair. Can't be too sad about that though when Thorpe still conjured up many great memories elsewhere.

 

[Anil]

Was an excellent player, this is terrible news!